In the rogue-like game Hades, Bloodstones serve as the essential ammunition for Zagreus's special Cast ability. These crimson artifacts are thrown projectiles that play a crucial role in combat, allowing for various offensive and strategic maneuvers throughout the Underworld.
Bloodstones as Cast Ammunition
Bloodstones are a distinct type of artifact in the game's codex, directly fueling Zagreus's Cast. Unlike his primary attack or special, the Cast ability has a limited number of charges, each represented by a Bloodstone.When Zagreus uses his Cast:
- He launches a Bloodstone in the direction he is facing.
- Upon hitting an enemy, the Bloodstone will often stick to them, continuing to deal damage or apply effects based on equipped Boons.
- Bloodstones can typically be retrieved from defeated enemies or after a short duration if they don't stick or miss, allowing the player to replenish their Cast charges. This mechanic encourages aggressive play and strategic positioning to maximize Cast uptime.
The base Cast ability inflicts damage, but its true versatility comes from divine intervention.
Modifying Bloodstones with Boons
The power and function of Bloodstones can be significantly altered and enhanced through Boons granted by the Olympian gods and other characters. These modifications can completely change how the Cast ability behaves, turning it into a powerful tool for various playstyles.Common ways Boons can modify Bloodstones and the Cast include:
- Increased Damage: Boons from gods like Ares or Artemis can boost the base damage of the Cast.
- Status Effects: Bloodstones can be imbued with status curses, such as:
- Hangover (Dionysus): Causes enemies to take damage over time.
- Chill (Demeter): Slows enemies and can deal damage.
- Weak (Aphrodite): Reduces enemy damage output.
- Utility and Crowd Control:
- Rupture (Poseidon): Knocks enemies away and causes them to take damage when they hit obstacles.
- Lightning (Zeus): Causes the Cast to chain lightning to nearby foes.
- Transformation of Cast: Some Boons drastically alter the Cast, for example, turning it into a seeking projectile, an area-of-effect blast, or a continuous beam.
- Retrieval Mechanics: Boons can also change how Bloodstones are retrieved, making them return automatically or after a specific action.
Effectively utilizing and customizing Bloodstones with various Boons is a cornerstone of combat strategy in Hades, allowing players to create diverse and powerful builds.
